Need help wheel cracking sound

Fuzzyneon · Post by **Fuzzyneon** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:55 pm

when i turn i get a popping sound i lift the car up and can move the drivers side wheel in and out like wobble it if that makes sense any ideas? i was told by a friend it may be the wheel hub

OB · Post by OB » Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:57 pm

Sounds like a toasted wheel bearing/hub. Have someone move the tire back and fourth while you look behind it and find out exactly where the play is.

Fuzzyneon · Post by **Fuzzyneon** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:10 pm

OB wrote:Sounds like a toasted wheel bearing/hub. Have someone move the tire back and fourth while you look behind it and find out exactly where the play is.

from when i did look i know the tierod or cv joint wasn't moving i didnt have the hub as an idea till a later date where can i buy one of these?
and how hard is it to install?

OB · Post by OB » Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:24 pm

You'd probably have to get the hub from the dealer, but it's possible that an auto parts store might have a reman'd unit.

As far as replacement goes, you'll have to remove the entire knuckle assembly from the car. Then you'll then have to use a bearing splitter and hub press to remove the hub from the knuckle (it is pressed in from the factory). It's a complicated procedure, requiring a few special tools.

Fuzzyneon · Post by **Fuzzyneon** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:42 pm

OB wrote:You'd probably have to get the hub from the dealer, but it's possible that an auto parts store might have a reman'd unit.

As far as replacement goes, you'll have to remove the entire knuckle assembly from the car. Then you'll then have to use a bearing splitter and hub press to remove the hub from the knuckle (it is pressed in from the factory). It's a complicated procedure, requiring a few special tools.

any idea for labor at a mechanic??

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:47 pm

OB wrote:.
As far as replacement goes, you'll have to remove the entire knuckle assembly from the car. Then you'll then have to use a bearing splitter and hub press to remove the hub from the knuckle (it is pressed in from the factory). It's a complicated procedure, requiring a few special tools.

Werd. This is one area where they took a step or three back in technology with the neon. Back to the early L body days (1978).
The P bodys that the neon replaced, you took off the half shaft nut, removed three cap screws, pulled it out, slid the new one in reinstalled the screws/halshaft nut to specs and you were done. If the seals need replaced you still had to pop the ball joint loose and move the knuckle out enough to get the axle stub to clear, but still a project that could be done in 30 minutes or less. The hub and bearing assy cost about $75 for a Tmken unit bearing.
I don't know that you will get away that cheap for parts/labor required to do the neon install.

If you are not real familiar with it, at most remove the knuckle, and take it to a shop to do the rest. At least you will save some $ in labor. Just reading the process in the FSM makes me cringe a bit, but mostly pisses me off, since they had a far better method of doing the same thing. And I really don't think this set up lasts any longer. /Rant
Just be sure the ground strap that goes to the inner fender is in good shape. They are there to prevent electrical arcing in the bearing from static electricity. It is a lesson learned from 1978.

OB · Post by OB » Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:47 pm

I could make a guess, but to be honest I haven't done a hub on a Neon. I'd say 3-6 hours, ballpark. Based on what I've read and seen, there is no reason why it would take any more than 3-4 hours if you had the right tools and knew what you were doing. Call Dodge and ask, they can give you a dead-on labor only quote, it's in the books.

Fuzzyneon · Post by **Fuzzyneon** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:48 pm

sorry for being slow i am asking for labor for what exactly to be replaced?

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:59 pm

Ask for a labor quote on replacing a front wheel bearing, or hub bearing, depending on what terminology they want to use. Eitherway they will know what you mean. If you call a dealer they will likely transfer you to the parts department for prices if you want a full quote. You just have to add the two to get the bottom line.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:31 pm

I just replaced my Knuckles/Spindles and Bearings. i got my parts from OEMdodgeparts.com which will save you money in the long run, however to do the whole thing is pricey. As for just changing your bearings things become significantly less expensive.

The bearings themselves can range from $30-55. If your going to pay a shop to do this it will probably take about 6 hours to do both sides. And then you'd need an alignment afterwards.

if you do it yourself you will need at least a 12 ton press. Let me know if you are going to do the work yourself and I'll give you more detail on how to go about it.

Fuzzyneon · Post by **Fuzzyneon** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:52 pm

hansken_yo wrote:I just replaced my Knuckles/Spindles and Bearings. i got my parts from OEMdodgeparts.com which will save you money in the long run, however to do the whole thing is pricey. As for just changing your bearings things become significantly less expensive.

The bearings themselves can range from $30-55. If your going to pay a shop to do this it will probably take about 6 hours to do both sides. And then you'd need an alignment afterwards.

if you do it yourself you will need at least a 12 ton press. Let me know if you are going to do the work yourself and I'll give you more detail on how to go about it.

unfortunately i don't have the equipment to do myself i would love to but i also cant have the kind of downtime i would be setting aside for myself im gonna call and get some quotes is my wheel gonna like fall off is this okay to drive in the mean time ?

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:57 am

I went quite some time on mine (3 months), but it lead to other things failing due to extra stress placed upon them. Also driving will increasingly become more difficult to control and dangerous.

OB · Post by OB » Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:28 am

The FSM says that the wheel bearings aren't to be serviced separately, only as a hub unit. I didn't know Dodge sold the bearings by themselves...

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 1:17 pm

^^^ That would probably be right and may be why my bearings went out so quick after changing them out in March last year.

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:06 pm

Hmmm, this FSM says they can be serviced seperately.

There you have it.

OB · Post by OB » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:17 am

You're right, I read it wrong. It says the bearing is not to be disassembled for any reason. For some reason I thought it said hub. Oh well, I'm losing my marbles!

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 6:10 pm

My marbles rolled away a long time ago!